Panel board structure



Nov'. 8, 1932. l. V. COLE 1,886,466

PANEL BOARD STRUCTURE Filed Aug. a, i928 2. 1Q H IO 1 I6 lNvENToR l hfvmg V @de HY/@M ATTORNEY PATENT OFFIC IRVNG V. COLE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY PANEL BOARD STRUCTURE Application filed August 8, 1928.

This invention relates to panel board structures, more particularly to structures wherein a. plurality of circuits are attached to a single set of bus bars.

It has long been desirable to have a panel board structure having a number of circuits thereon and so constructed as to allow ready removal or" some of the circuits for replacement by others of different current carrying capacity. Occasion often arises after a` panel board has been installed, ior not only changing the circuits but adding new circuits. Attempts have been made to construct boards having such characteristics but, heretofore, there has not been produced a structure which was capable. oit meeting the requirements ot the trade in all the desirable particulars.

My invention solves the problems presented in structures of this character, it being among `the objects of my invention to provide a panel board which eliminates the necessity of using a heavy slate or marble panel thus elfecting a great economy, and at the same time making the structure much lighter.

It is also among the objects of my invention to provide a structure which is relatively inexpensive to build and in which the several units are accessible for replacement without delay, without the necessity for expert workmen and without the use of special tools.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a structure in which the current carrying units may be easily changed for more or less units of lesser or greater capacity, and also a structure in which the capacity may be increased at will by the insertion oi additional units.

The practice of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in the several figures oi? which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a panel board structure made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View thereof taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View thereof taken alone the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

The structure includes a panel 1 of articial insulating material, such as molded ebony Serial No. 298,232.

asbestos or other well-known products of th s i character. The thickness of this panel is usually much less than the thickness of slate previously used in panel board structures of the same capacity, is very much lighter, and l expensive. The panel 1 is usually mounted in a case not shown, and is provided with insulating end pieces 2 and 3, the piece 23 having a slot e therein to accommodate the conductors (not shown) which are secured to the bus bars. A series of three bus bars 5, 6 and 7 are placed centrally of the panel l, each or" said bars consisting of two bars 8 having a slot or space 9 therebetween. rlfhe ends bars 8 are held together by members 10 and bolts 11. To one end of the bus bars 5, G and 7 are secured cable holders 12. rlhe bus bars are held in their proper relative positions by insulating members 13 and 1li, and bolts 15 passing thru slots 9, and members 13 and 14.

insulating bases 16 of molded material such as ebony asbestos, or other insulating compositions obtainable on the market, have three grooves therein, into which are secured current carrying conductors 17, 18 and 19 of suilicient length to reach bus bars 5, 6 and 2f, respectively. The conductors re secured thereto by bolts 2O and washers 21, the bolts passing through slots 9. The bases 16 are provided with fuse gaps 22 and cable holders 23. A block or strip 24 or" insulating material its into a groove in each of the bases 16, one end thereof being held under insulating strips 25, which are secured at their ends to pieces 2 and 3. The opposite end of bloei; 24 is held under one of the bus bars. A screw 26 having a nut 27 thereon passes through block 24 and bears upon plate 28 in base 16, lirmly wedging said base in place.

Circuits may be formed on opposite sides of the bus bars with the use of the same conductors by providing conductors 17, 18 and 19 which are secured to bases 16 on opposite sides of the bus bars, said conductors being secured at intermediate points to the bus bars by bolts 20 and washers 21.

Single phase circuits may be formed either on one side or on both sides of the bus bars by using bases 16 having only two grooves for reception of conductors 29 and 30, which ein 2 Leeaae are secured as described above. Switches 3l may be provided in some or all of the circuits. Additional space 32 is provided for additional circuits as required.

A panel board structure of this hind may include circuits of single phase or multiple phase, switches may be provided and other elements may be substituted for the fuses therein, all as is well-known in the art. One of the highly desirable features of the construction is in the ease with whichany circuit may be removed without disturbing any other circuit, by merely loosening screw 26, removing block 24, removing the proper bolts 2O and taking out the proper base 16. This may be replaced by one or more circuits of different size or character, which renders the structure exceptionally flexible. For example, two 200 ampere circuits (or units) may be removed and three GO ampere units may be mounted in their place, and the only tool necessary to use is a screw driver.

Because I mount each circuit or unit upon an insulatingr base which, in turn, is mounted on the panel, I obtain a high order of insulation with a relatively small thickness and weight of panel. By the provision of space 32 on the panel I allow for future expansion by the addition of circuits as the necessity arises. The individual circuits are held in place by bolts fitting into slots in the bus bars and by a block which clamps the molded base to the panel, which allows of the ready rearrangementA and the moving of circuits in a large number of positions. Each circuit occupies no more rooi i than on a slate panel.

Although I have described my invention setting forth a single specific embodiment thereof, my invention is not limited to the details shown and described. For example, the drawing shows a structure in which circuits are attached on both sides of the bus bars, but I may arrange the bus bars on one side of the panel and attach circuits to only one side of the bus bars. As shown, the bus bars carry multipliase alternating current but I may provide single phaseor even direct current. rlhe specific means for fastening parts together and other details may be varied within the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims appended hereto.

By the term wedge or wedging used in the claims I mean a friction fit sufficient to hold the parte together so that there is no relative movement thereof in normal functioning of the apparatus. By the term clamping I m'ean the securing of the parts together, as current-carrying members to bus bars, by clamping means which do not include devices, as screws or bolts, which pass through substantially circular openings in the bus bars. In this connection the slots 9 are not to be considered as openings.

What I claim is l. A panel board structure comprising a panel of artificial insulating 'material, bus bars mounted thereon, current carrying members attached to said bus bars and mounted on an insulating base, slots in said bus bars and bolts for securing said members passing through said slots.

2. A panel board structure comprising a panel of insulating material, bus bars mount ed thereon, current carrying members mounted on an insulating base, slots in said bus bars and means for securing said members in said slots.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2 day of August 1928.

IRVING V. COLE. 

